S66 



PORTS WOOL — VERNET. 



danger, if a vigilant look-out and common skill were exer- 

 cised. 



Berkeley Sound (besides many other ports) would contain a 

 large fleet in security, while around it are coves and basins in 

 which any repairs might be carried on. 



Probably some intercourse might be opened with the Pata- 

 gonians, and, by them, with other roving tribes on the conti- 

 nent, who would exchange guanacoes, horses, cattle, poultry, 

 hides, horns, tallow, and hair, for hardware, clothing, cutlery, 

 ornaments, saddles, spurs, bridles, &c. ; and as the guanaco is 

 so warmly clothed in the high southern latitudes, and is capable 

 of being domesticated,^ it might be found a valuable animal to 

 encourage among sheep and cattle at the Falklands. Mr. Bris- 

 bane told me, that some wool, sent by Mr. Vernet from East 

 Falkland to Liverpool, sold for nearly double the price of 

 Buenos Ayres wool ; and this was the produce of sheep which 

 had only been a few years on the island, of the Buenos Ayrean 

 stock, unmixed with any superior breed. To show how well 

 the little colony, established by Mr. Vernet, was succeeding, 

 prior to its harsh and unnecessary ruin by Captain Silas Dun- 

 can, I will give an extract of a letter received from a brother 

 officer who visited Port Louis. 



" The settlement is situated half round a small cove, which 

 has a narrow entrance from the sound ; this entrance, in the 

 time of the Spaniards, was commanded by two forts, both now 

 lying in ruins, the only use made of one being to confine the 

 wild cattle in its circular wall when newly brought in from 

 the interior. The governor, Louis Vernet, received me with 

 cordiality. He possesses much information, and speaks several 

 languages. His house is long and low, of one story, with very 

 thick walls of stone. I found in it a good library, of Spanish, 

 German, and English works. A lively conversation passed at 

 dinner, the party consisting of Mr. Vernet and his wife, Mr. 



* " Magalhaens, in his voyage, saw Patagonians who had with them four 

 young guanacoes, led about with a kind of halter." — Burney, vol. i. p.34, 

 anno 1520. — And others on which they placed their wives. Pennant. 

 At Mocha the natives had tame guanacoes, or ulpacoes, in 1598. In Peru, 

 the llama has been a domestic animal as long as we have any record. 



